​Big family dinners don't have to be a thing of the past. If you and your family want that tradition to be a regular part of your lives, you can make that happen. Your family dinners might even include friends, neighbors, and your loved one's elder care providers. It's all about putting a plan in place and then sticking to it.

Make an Easy Plan

To start out with, make sure that you're not trying to do too much. Just because you're wanting to recreate that big family dinner feeling, that doesn't mean that you have to do anything complicated. Make a simple plan and delegate as much of it as you can. In fact, if you have several people coming over who can bring one or two dishes for everyone to share, that's perfect.

Be Consistent

Once you start out with this idea, you can't put it off for two weeks and expect everyone to be ready on the third week. This is about building up a consistent habit with the people that you love. So it's important that once you get started, you stick with it. Some weeks will be easier than others and you'll have more energy some weeks than others. That's all okay, especially when you weigh it against the benefit of spending time with people that you love.

Let Everyone Know What to Expect

Keep all of your loved ones informed along the way. If there's going to be a potluck, make sure that they know what they're bringing and that everyone is counting on them. Once everyone is in on the plan, you'll be amazed at how easily everything will come together.

Involve Your Elderly Loved One in the Planning

You definitely want to keep your elderly loved one involved in the planning process for your new family dinner habit. She's likely hosted quite a few of the big family dinners over the years and she can help you to plan them properly. Take a page from her book of experience and help her to feel involved in the entire process.

Once you experience the wonder that weekly family dinners can bring, you'll wonder how your family got by without them for so long.